The United Arab Emirates (UAE) grappled with the resurgence of heavy rains on Thursday and Friday, leading to a series of flight cancellations and the closure of schools and offices across the region.
In response to the adverse weather conditions, authorities swiftly implemented precautionary measures, urging students to transition to distance learning and facilitating remote work arrangements for office employees. The Meteorology Department (MeT) had issued an orange alert for Thursday, forewarning residents of the impending heavy rains and thunderstorms that swept through the UAE.
The directive from UAE authorities mandated private schools, nurseries, and universities to initiate distance learning protocols, ensuring the safety of students amidst the inclement weather conditions. Additionally, Dubai’s government announced a work-from-home mandate for its employees on May 2 and May 3, while also closing down parks and beaches as a precautionary measure.
The impact of the heavy rains reverberated across the aviation sector, with Emirates and other airlines reporting several flight cancellations and delays due to the adverse weather conditions. IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, and Flydubai all acknowledged disruptions to their flight operations in various UAE cities, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi.
Last month’s torrential downpour, hailed as the heaviest on record since 1949, wreaked havoc on the UAE’s infrastructure, overwhelming drainage systems and causing widespread flooding. The aftermath of the deluge left many residents grappling with substantial losses, including damaged homes and vehicles.
The repercussions extended to Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travel, which required the deployment of 22 tankers equipped with vacuum pumps to alleviate the inundation on its premises.
Despite the recent tumultuous weather, a semblance of normalcy was anticipated, with generally fair and partly cloudy conditions forecasted for eastern and southeastern areas on Friday, as reported by the Khaleej Times. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) projected a humid night, with temperatures expected to gradually rise from Saturday onwards, peaking at 38 degrees Celsius in Abu Dhabi and 35 degrees Celsius in Dubai. Additionally, light to moderate winds were forecasted, potentially leading to the dispersion of dust and sand across the region.
